CASA volunteers competing for funds to supply children’s needs

Volunteers from CASA in the Heart of Texas are competing in a statewide roundup to win a share of prize money to help foster children in the community.

And it’s donations of time that CASA needs.

“Whichever region recruits the most volunteers by September will get $20,000 to spend on things these foster children can only dream about, like class rings, sports equipment and music lessons — all those things the state can’t provide for foster children, but every kid should have,” said Marquis Robertson, volunteer recruiter-trainer.

Court Appointed Special Advocates are volunteers who get to know a foster child and speak to everyone involved in that child’s life — from parents to teachers to caseworkers, Robertson said. CASA volunteers then help the judge decide what is best for that child.

“Right now, we are trying to recruit more volunteers in Brown, Comanche and Mills counties because over half the children in foster care do not have a CASA volunteer standing up and speaking for them in court,” Robertson said.

The Brownwood office is in the Family Services Center, and its phone number is (325) 643-2557.